Air-cleansing apparatus



Feb. w, 193i. R. M. Fox HAL AIR QLEAESING AEPARATUS Filed Harsh 14. 1929 wvl/EN 72:7

Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATiszNT;orifi-CE..

RiOHARDA'M. Rox AND HARVEY E. SMITH, or jroRTLAND, OREGON, AssiefNoR's V'11o Y AEROMETRIO VALVE CORPORATION, OF PORTLAND, OREGON f fAIR-CLEANSING APPARATUS Application fue@ March 14, 1929. Yserial No. 346,862.v

This invention relates generally to the use of compressed air, and particularly to devices for removing from the air dust and Y other forms of foreign matter having a higher spev cific gravity than doesY the air itself.

rlhe main4 Object of this inventionris to produce an exceedingly simple and efficient valve for removing foreignsubstances from` ya compressed air linebefore the yair is de* livered to a pneumatic tire, tool, or other contrivance in V which thepresenee of dust, moisture, or other solid 0r liquid would interfere with the proper functioning of the valves or working parts of the particularndevicerto which airis being delivered. l

Thesecond Object'is to Yso const'ructlthel` valve as to utilize the well known inertia of movement, as well as the intertia of rest, to separate heavier than air foreign. substances from the air and to maintain-.this separationV until an accumulation of such foreign matter isA removed from the valve; Y- The third object is to soconstruct the lvalve as to utilize not onlythe changes of direction for the .purpose of separatingthe. heavier materials from the air, but also changesv in volume and velocity, in addition to gravity tselff Y The fourthf'object is to so construct the" Y valve that any abnormal out flow of. air- Y through the valve will be prevented byp-an. automatieincreasetin the back pressure; orY

restriction offered to the flowof air.y

The fifth Objectis to provide anv inexpen-l 35 sive device for they thorough cleansing of compressed air before it is delivered to pneumatic tires oi" air operated devices'o'f any kind, or where air is used for cleansing purposes, as in dental lor horological work;

valve which will make'it possible to dispense with cimibersome and expensive washing ap-v paratus such asis commonly employed;v These, and other objects, will become more apparent fromthe specification following-as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which?, A.

p .-Figure 1 is a vertical section ythrough Vthe device showing the normalA passage of air .50 therethrough. f Figure 2 isa view similar to 'a horizontal section. taken l.along the line l22above the tube 21 is a meteringthimble l25 Thesixth object is to produce a cleansing 9o Y A parts when resisting the flow of abnormalffv quantities of air. Figure 3 is a section taken along the line'S-S in Figure 2. lzligureiL is L ll--fl in Figure 1.

Similar numbers of reference refer to"simi`jr l lar parts throughout'the several views;`

Referring in detail, to thewdrawing, .the e device in'its preferred form consists ofa body. 60 10 'whose lower end 11 is threaded upon'an f air supply pipe 12, to which airfisdelivered fromY any convenient source Y (not. sh own)l.j'`

VV.lnthe-body 10fis also provided a drain plug.

13 whoseV point-14 normally closes the drain opening 15. y YA side outlet- 16is provided for the .exit` of foreign matterv when the plug 13 is opened. On one side of the body 10 is formedl 'a boss 17 into Vwhich is threaded a,

delivery pipe 18 for cleansed air through 70 which air` may'pass to a tirefinflating valve, i l or other mechanism, as above suggested.

. Threaded into the top side of zthe bodylO is the threaded shank19 of the tube nut 20 which is ,formed at the base of the intake tube' 21, which should stand in avertical position. Inside of the intake tube 21, Land* securedat the lower end thereof to .thenut 2O, is an :outlet tube 22 whose upper end extends well. above the top of the intake tube 21.

Y. In the vbody 10 is formed an inlet .passage 23 which communicates between'the pipe 112' and the top side of the nut 20 between the tube 21 and the tube 22. Around the outside of the tube 21 is placed a spreader 24 whose 85 top. side slopes downwardly toward its outer edge, which is circularlin form. 4 v f, -Y Slidably mounted on the'portion ofthe tube which is somewhat conical inV shape having its smaller end uppermost and having. ,aV shoulder`26 formed at thelower'end thereof. Integral with the ymeteringjthimble isa ,me-` tering mantle 27 which extends downwardlyr around the outside of the intaketube-.21Land spaced therefrom and almost reachingfthe top of the spreader 24, when the lowermost V v side 38 of-.the'thimble 25-rests upon: the

shoulder 39=formed on the tube :22. V'In' the body isfalso'providedanoutletlw passage 28 which communicates between the pipe 18 and the recess 29 into which the shank 19 is threaded. Around the outside of the body is formed an internally threaded flange intowhich is threaded a cylindrical casing 31 whose `upper end 32 is closed and on its top side is provided a ,nut 3,3by means of which the casing 31 may be rotated. On the under side of the member 32 is formed an outlet tube housingY 34 `having a cylindrical recess 35 formed-therein and outer walls 36 which taper downwardly to the edge 37 adapted to engage the shoulder 26 when" the metering mantle 27 is sufficiently raised by an abnormal flow of air through the valve.Y

rThe shank 19 is provided with a channel 40 which communicates between the pipe 18 and the outlet tube 22. n

In order to better eizplain the operation of this device the various zones where changes occur will be referred to as follows: Zone 1 indicates the location of the lirsttui'nin the incoming air, namely as `the air leaves the intaketube, 21 andv enters themetering mantle 27. Zone 2 indicatesthe second change in direction and liesbetween the bottom of the metering mantle 27 and the top of the spreader 24.1'l` he third zoneindicates the lo-V 1 tion showniii Figure 1 of the drawing, name` ly onan air supply pipe 12 and having its delivery tube 18 connected to an air delivery line (not shown) by means of a coupling 41 which .maybe operatedby means of aliandle 42. If it is desired to delivercleansed air' from the pipe 12 through the pipe 18 for any purposewhatsoever, air is permitted to escape from Ythe device by means of a. vvalve (not shown) usually in the immediate vicinityof the tire inflating chuck ory air tool. Air now enters the. device from the pipe 12' passing through the inlet passage-23 andthe out-let tube-22 escaping into Zone 1 where its direction of travel -is reversedsending it downs' into zone2.

wardly against vthe top Vof thespreader 24, or"

.In zone lthe airreceives its lirst reduction Y in velocity, its first increase in volume and Vfirst change in direction and is now projected against the top ofthe spreader 24, as stated, causing the heavier Vthan airv particles tov roll v downwardly and fall between `the spreader 24 and the casing 31 into a trap 6, from which any accumulation can be removed by opening the( drain plug 13 which will cumulation to be blown out.

Vhile the major portion of the heavier than air particles are removed in Zone 2, as stated, a small quantity may be found traveling upwardly from the second zone to a point about half way upVv thecasii1g' 31 where there is formed an eddy current zone 7, the major portion of the air traveling upwardly to Zone permit the ac- 3- where-the -third- Y reversal iii direction of travel oecurs,this time noteffecting its velocity or volume, after which the air passes do wnwardlyalong the outlet tube housing 34, which directs 'the current of air toward the center of the casing 31.-4` rlhe outlet tube housing 34 is ofsucli length and shape as to bring about a rapidreverse in the air flow in zone 4.

which increases the velocity and decreases` the volume. f 1 l As the aii'travcls downwaidly` from zone 3 to Zone 4 the outermostportion of the current contacts with the expanded portionof the aix;

in-Zone,;7, causing aneddy current to take place therein which, iiiiturn, causes the heavier thany air particles that may have traveled to this pointftebe thrown outwardly where they descend V alniig fthe outer surface .of the meteringmantle 27 into the trap '6.

` `v:After theairhas passedfrom the fourth Zone intel-he top ofthe outlet tube'g22, which constitutesI the .fifth Zone, itis reversed in direction for the fifth time and enters 'the outlet vtube 22,- where it regainseitsoriginal velocity and volume. 1 f' Y It will bc sfeenthatas theflowof'airin` ii creasesthrough the-'delivery pipe 18 the metering mantle 27, with its metering thimble 25, slides upwardly alongthe outlet tube 22 i causing an increased restrictionto Vvthellow of air from zone 4 to zone @thereby `automatically throttling theliow oflair'which Vpreventsthe Aair from leaving the device too rapidlyorY in an unclean condition. 1

It will be noted that the upwardtravel of the metering mantle 27 is limited byV the shoulder 26 coming i'nzcontact with, the lower edge 37 ofthe outer wall 36 and thelowermost position of themantle`27 is determined by theshoulder 39 on theoutlet tube 22.

' As soon as the outgoing and incoming volumes become sufficiently equalized the restriction will bereinoved byaJ downwardsliding of the metering mantle 27 It is, clear that the point of equalization will depend largely;` upon the volume consumed, aswell as weight of the moving parts,-and the relative areas of the variousrpassages through which theair must travel.v Y

For the purpose of illustrating the path of the air currentssamewill be vshown as full lli) line arrows 43, .whereas the heavierthan'air particles will be shown as short dot-ted lines 44, and the precipitatedparticles 45 willbe shown as small dots. i

- VIt.-.W-il1`be noted that thelower edge :agfof 'aie metering meeue 271e beu shaped emi curved to prevent the formation of eddy cur- A Arents between the metering mantle 27 and theV spreader 24, which formation would retard the escape of the foreign matter into thetrap While this device has been described las;

vbeing placed in delivery lines, it could of course be placed on the suction side of a compressor for the purpose of keeping foreign matter out of the Compressor-parts; in fact, it can be used'any place where air is in motion, although obviouslythe benefits are Y most apparent Where theair is carried at several atmospheres of pressure.

whiie We beve time illustrated eed described our invention, it is clear that numer-l ous changes can be made in the details thereof Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, such as the curvature and size of the reversing bends, as well as in the number of reversals and `changes in area employed, and

inthe form and position of attachmentsrto any apparatus using air. No limits ofiuse by reason of form is contemplatedfasconlined to any particular structure or position.

inginlet and outlet ports formed therein, a

scavenging valve Vmounted therein, an upright intake tube mounted on said bodycominunicating withA said inlet port, any outlet 'tube within said'inlet tubefcommuncating e with said outletport, a spreader surrounding the base of said inlet tube forming a trap on the underside ofv same, a 'metering mantle slidably mounted on the upper end of said liow of air exceeds/a predetermined maximum.

3. An air cleansing apparatus consisting of c a chamber` having a tortuous passageway formed therein through which' airV can pass in opposite directions, said passagewayhaving varying areas adapted to provide varying velocities for the air traveling therethrough, the bends in said passageway formingpointsof reversal at whichheavier than air particles 'are extracted by'inertia, a trap forming an auxiliary to said passageway having a dead air space therein for the collection of hea-vier than air particles, and a metering mantle restricting the area of the passageway when the How of yair through the apparatus exceeds a predetermined maximum.

et.v An air cleansing apparatus having Va tortuous passageway comprising sections through which air can flow in successively reversing directions and passing through suci f cessiveichanges in velocity and volume YWhereby heavier than air particles contained there- Y in will be separated from the air at the pointy of reversal .and ychange of velocity, a trapF compartment formed within said device comymunieatingYwith said ysections foi the admission of solids, and means for limiting the Vflow of air through said tortuous passage for the purpose of preventing the agitation of trapped' solids as well as the'separationY of4 passing through the solids from' thev air e RICHARD M. FOX. `i

HARVEY E. SMITH.

outlet tube, a casing on said bodyV enclosing i said spreader and mantle, an outlet tube housing surrounding the upper end ofl said outlet I 1 I e tube forming a top for said casing, the lower e end of said housing constituting lany outlfetj` opening for thecleansed air, and the. mantle i constituting a closure for said outlet opening whereby the flow-of airthroughl said device is governed.. .Y 2. In an air cleansing devicethe combination of abell-shaped'metering mantle, an

Aoutlet tube on which said metering mantle is e slidably mounted, an outlet tube housing hav- Y ing a recess into which said outlet tube projects having a yspace between said housing and tube through which air must pass before entering said outlettube, said mantle having a thimble formed thereon adapted to restrict the opening betweenV said outlet tube and housing, and an inlet tube adapted to proJect air into said bell-.shaped mantle in amanner to slide same toward said housingwhenthe iio 

